Thread: Base for stropping, what do you use, and why?

Contemplating adding a pasted strop to the arsenal, and reading up on it.

I see people using CroX on linen, CBN on leather, Diamond spray on felt...

Tell me oh wise men of the cloth (and/or leathers)...

What have been your favorite bases for your pastes, and what made that choice superior to the others?

By far, the felts with either chromium oxide, diamond or cbn sprays.

Have fun

I use .25 and .125 diamond spray on felt and it works great but I may have to rethink my use felt after my conversation with Ed to the meet on Sunday. He told me that felt has some type of recoil or spring effect at the end of each pass which launches the dried diamond spray up in the air and and makes it easy to breath in. After 10-15 razors you could be breathing in considerable amounts of this stuff, this is why he uses light weight balsa. I never thought of that, I'm doing 3-4 sometimes 5 razors at a time so I see some balsa in my future,

Originally Posted by Bayamontate

felt has some type of recoil or spring effect at the end of each pass which launches the dried diamond spray up in the air and and makes it easy to breath in. After 10-15 razors you could be breathing in considerable amounts of this stuff,

I'm reading this and with all due respect .... first of all, the average guy .... I think I am one of those .... isn't honing/stropping 15 razors at a time. I usually hone one, maybe 2 at a time. Then there is the felt .... I have chrom-ox on felt on a flatbed hone. I've never seen any green stuff 'recoil' at the end of the stroke. I've got diamond paste on leather in 3 grits on flatbeds and never yet seen any residue in the air. Diamond spray (0.5) on an SRD hanging felt and again .... no recoil of diamonds. Of course, like the average guy, I'm using minimal pressure blade to stropping surfaces. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Bayamontate

I use .25 and .125 diamond spray on felt and it works great but I may have to rethink my use felt after my conversation with Ed to the meet on Sunday. He told me that felt has some type of recoil or spring effect at the end of each pass which launches the dried diamond spray up in the air and and makes it easy to breath in. After 10-15 razors you could be breathing in considerable amounts of this stuff, this is why he uses light weight balsa. I never thought of that, I'm doing 3-4 sometimes 5 razors at a time so I see some balsa in my future,

The tendancy is to use to much of these sprays and potions,use it properly, you will not see this stuff flying in the air.

It actually clears the sinuses ....... when used properly ..... don't snort too much .....

Aluminum oxide, Simichrome or Flitz polish on cardboard or a piece of leather, perhaps glued on with some Barge Cement onto a piece of wood. Why? Because it's cheap, effective and available at the corner hardware store.

Originally Posted by JeffR

Aluminum oxide, Simichrome or Flitz polish on cardboard or a piece of leather, perhaps glued on with some Barge Cement onto a piece of wood. Why? Because it's cheap, effective and available at the corner hardware store.

A Hobo Strop!

I love Flatbed Bench Hones for pastes, they seem to allow for the most control...

As to the Medium well that gets a little involved..

I don't use Balsa I find it very "effective" read that as it can get harsh
I love softer Leathers
Linen is Meh
Felt rocks because it is very gentle even with Diamonds


Of course that can be YMMV also depending on your stropping style

@JeffR I used Flitz on linen for years before I found SRP, also Chalk and Hairspray

Magpie,

I use a hard leather panel for my modular paddle strop - tallow tanned leather dusted with CrOx, rubbed in well and the surplus wiped off.

For diamond & CBN suspensions, I use a hard wool felt panel.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ